As well as rolling out a developer preview of their new Mac OS X Mountain Lion operating system. Apple has also made available to the general public running Mac OS X Lion, a beta version of their new Messages application.

The Messages app has been created by Apple to replace its existing iChat application, and provides you with a glimpse one of the new apps that will be bundled with the new Mac OS X Mountain Lion software, when it’s officially released.

Once installed Apple Messages beta brings support for iMessages to the Mac environment, and replaces iChat almost completely but Apple say that the iChat will still function if required.

One of the great features of Mac Messages beta is that any conversation started in the system will then continue on any of your other iOS devices. Allowing you to stay unto date with the conversation at hand, even when your laptop is closed or you are away from your desktop.

“Download Messages Beta and get a taste of what’s coming in OS X Mountain Lion. When you install Messages, it replaces iChat. But iChat services will continue to work. And Messages brings iMessage to the Mac — just like on iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch running iOS 5″

To download the beta version of the Messages app, jump over to the Apple website.